Shaft mucker and bucket therefor



Nov. 8, 1960 D. M. SCHWARTZ SHAFT MUCKER AND BUCKET THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1957 Nov. 8, 1960 0. M. SCHWARTZ 2,959,307

SHAFT MUCKER AND BUCKET THEREFOR Filed March 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DANlEL M. SCHWARTZ BY AQWJ/ 77AM #M ATTORNEY! I Nov. 8, 1960 D. M. SCHWARTZ 2,959,307

SHAFT MUCKER AND BUCKET THEREFOR Filed March 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR DANIEL. M. SCHWARTZ BY //4/w/ TAM NM A. AM

United States Patent SHAFT MUCKER AND BUCKET THEREFOR Daniel M. Schwartz, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Eimco Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, a'corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 647,620

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-145) This invention relates generally to shovel buckets and more particularly to shovel buckets of the type utilized with loader or mucker apparatus of the underground excavating type.

It has been discovered that tractor excavators or muckers are more desirable and efiicient in many kinds of underground mining and shaft excavating operations than typical clamshelllapparatus because of the faster operation and greater load characteristics afforded by the use of tractor excavators. Generally, these underground excavators or muckers are of the endless track, overhead bucket type which are powered by air or electric motors and which are designed to operate at maximum capacities and speeds in minimum space requirements.

It has been further discovered that shaft muckers or excavators are confronted with conditions not normal to surface loading or drift operations. Specifically, in surface or drift operations the buckets of loader excavation equipment normally work against piles of rock of characteristics wherein it is only necessary to force or slide the buckets along the ground surface into the pile in order to fill the bucket. In shaft excavation operations the shovel bucket is normally dropped on the top of a rough, broken rock surface into which the bucket must actually dig in order to load.

In order for the shovel buckets of shaft muckers to effectively and efficiently dig into a rock pile for the purpose of loading the bucket it has been found that they must be provided with some'form-of digging edge properly positioned and located on the bucket to produce penetration of the rock surface'and to initiate the bucket filling operation without obstructing bucket movement or movement of material into the bucket.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and unique shovel bucket for muckers or excavators which functions to provide greatly improved bucket loading operation, particularly in connection with underground shaft excavations.

Another object of the p'resent invention resides in the provision of a new and useful'shovel bucket for excavation apparatus which incorporates teeth so constructed and located on the shovel bucket as to produce new and useful results in excavation operations.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shovel bucket for excavation apparatus which includes teeth formed in forwardly downwardly projecting positions along the entry edge of the bucket which serve to start a digging operation simultaneously with bucket movement and which avoid obstructing material entry into the bucket.

Typically, the invention is embodied in a shovel bucket for digging and scooping including a bottom panel, a rear panel and side panels cooperating to define a bucket, the bottom panel being provided with a digging or cutting lip transversely of its forward end, and spaced teeth carried by the bottom panel and having portions extending forwardly and downwardly from the front digging lip or edge of the bottom panel.

" ice The objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily evident from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment such as isshown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

'Fig. 1 is a side elevation of excavation apparatus em-. bodying a bucket constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bucket.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bucket shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bucket shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the digging teeth forming a part of the novel bucket.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the ishovel bucket, generally designated at 10, constituting the present invention, is shown in association with an excavator or mucker 12. The mucker 12 is of the overhead rocker arm type supported on endless tracks 14 to work on the rough surfaced rock pile 16 at the bottom of a shaft 18 or like excavation. The shovel bucket through which forward digging force is transmitted from the tractor to the bucket.

A loader .suitable for use with the present invention is more fully disclosed in United States patent application Serial No. 489,322, .filed February 12, 1955, now Patent The shovel' bucket 10 consists of a bottom panel 22, a rear panel 24, and side enclosing panels 26 such as disclosed in my Patent 2,480,384. The rocker arm assembly is secured typically to the spaced side enclosing panels 26 to support the bucket with the bottom panel slightly inclined in a rearward direction when the bucket lip .is in contact with the ground as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of t he drawings.

The bottom panel22, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with astraighttransverse edge at its rearward end where it is joined to the rear panel 24 with the side edges extending forwardly therefrom inclining angularly outwardly to provide a .front edge of greater transverse width than the rear edgeof the panel. The angularly inclined side edges of-the bottom panel are turned upwardly along marginal portions thereof as at 28 to be joined as at 30 to the lower edges of the side panels 26' which enclose the bucket between the side edges of the bottom panel 'and the rearpanel. The forward or front edge of the bottom panel is substantially arcuate extendingifrom the extreme side edges thereof angularly in a forw ar d direction to define a curved lip portion 32 at the extreme forward point on the panel. i

As best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings the rear. panel 24 may be of angular configuration so as to provide a sub; stantially vertical portion 34 for a spaced distance above its connection with the bottom panel and a forwardly inclined portion 36 angularly overlying the bottom panel at a spaced distance thereabove to produce a scoop type shovel. It is also seen in Fig. 4 that the side panels 26 are ofa substantially triangular configuration to enclose the sides of the scoop between the up-turned marginal edge portions 28 of the bottom panel and the angular rear panel 24. These side panels 26 may be provided withreenforcing plates 38 on their front edges extending upwardly from the marginal portions of the bottom panel.

Again referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings it is seen that cente rline thereof to form arcuately depressed cutting lip oredge. The transverse curvilinear configuration of the bottom panel 22 places the forwardmost curved digging lip 32 of the bottom panel in a horizontal plane below that of the remaining portions of the forward edge of the bottom panel of the bucket. v

Associated with the bottom panel of the bucket is a pair of digging teeth 4% each of which is of an elongated configuration taking the form of a normally horizontal segment 42 and an angularly inclined segment 44 which is of tapering thickness tap to bettom, thereby producmg a sharpened cutting or digging tip 48 on its extremlty. The angle of inclination of the segment 44 with respect to the segment 42 of each of the teeth, as desig nated at A in Fig. 5 of the drawings, isnormally maintained between the range of from 060 degrees and preferably from about 20 to 40 degrees, dependent upon the particular characteristics of the work to be done by the bucket; the angle A shown in the illustrated embodie them being 30 degrees. That end of the segment 42 of each of the teeth remote to the inclined segment 44 is tapered in thickness for a measured distance inwardly from the extreme end thereof as at B for purposes thatwill hereinafter become evident;

Each of the teeth 40 in its attached association with the bottom panel 22 is secured to the upper surface of the marginal edge portion of the bottom of the bucket, and parallel with its side edges, to position the inclined segrrlent 44 thereof forwardly of the front edge of the panel se that the segment projects forwardly and downwardly from the front edge of the bottom panel. As is best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings each of the tooth members 40, by reason of their point of attachment to the bottom panel, will have the digging point 44 thereof disposed forwardly of their point of attachment to the panel on a substantial= ly common transverse line with the extreme forward digging lip 32, and the cutting point 48 thereof in a horizontal plane substantially below that of the forward cutting lip 32 of the bottom panel.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 it is preferable to position the teeth so that their outer edges do not exceed the overall width of the bucket whereby the side edges 38 can clean up behind the teeth.

It can be seen that the utilization of a digging bucket as hereinbefore defined will produce advantageous functional results in the digging and loading of materials from a substantially horizontal rough surfaced rock pile such as is encountered in shaft excavation. Particularly, when the bucket is dropped onto the top of the rock pile, forward movement of the bucket under the impetus of the mucker will cause the forwardly and downwardly inclining digging teeth 4t) to enter the rock pile and will simultaneously bring the digging or cutting lip 32 of the bottom panel of the bucket into digging and pick-up position relative to the material to be loaded. Thus, where working space is at a minimum any forward motion of the rnucker will produce an immediate loading operation bf the shovel thereby minimizing the necessity of forward movement of the loading vehicle.

It is further pointed out, with overhead loaders of the type disclosed, the bucket and rocker arms return to the digging position by gravity and there is no positive force available to cause the bucket to initially penetrate into the material to be mucked. However, an overhead type rocker arm loads the bucket and rocker arms are :free to rotate into a digging position below the ground level where conditions permit. With the bucket, in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein the lip and teeth are below ground level and penetrating into the muck pile,

lifting force on the bucket by the rocker arm actuating -mechanism combined with the crowding of the bucket brought about by forward movement of the vehicle, a

"jack-knifing effect is obtained. This consists of rais- :ing the front of the. loader completely oif the ground so that maximum weightis applied to the bucket lip. In this-position it will beseen that the entire :weight of the loaderf'iscarried on thelbucket lip at the front and at the rear on the crawler tracks below the rear drive sprockets. It will be seen that this imposes an additional downward force on the bucket and aids substantially in bringing about efficient penetration of the material to be mucked.-

The specific details of the attachment of the teeth 40 to the bottom panel of the bucket, and of the teeth construction including the tapered thickness of the segment 42 on the upper surface of the bottom panel of the bucket minimizes interference by the teeth with the fiow of materials into the bucket during loading operations and'out of the bucket during dumping.

In order to more fully illustrate the present invention the following dimensions have been found to give very satisfactory results for a 10 cubic feet muck bucket:

Width of bucket opening adjacent the bottom portion 22,

4 feet 7 inches;

Width of bucket at top of opening, 3 feet, 5 inches; Angle A, 30;

Angle B, 15;

Angle D (Fig. 3),

Distance between teeth at I, 40 inches;

Projection of teeth at C (Fig. 3), 8 inches; Thickness of teeth at E (Fig. 5), 2 inches;

Thickness at forward portion of teeth at F, inch; Radius of curvature G, 4 inches;

Width of teeth at H, 3 inches;

Length J of teeth, 20 inches;

Height K, 4 /4 inches;

Projection of teeth below the bucket lip, 3 /2 inches.

The particular details of construction hereinbefore described have been set forth for the purpose of illustrating an operable embodiment of the invention but there is no intention that the shovel bucket construction hereafter claimed be limited beyond the requirements of the prior art and the hereinafter appended claims.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a unique and useful shovel bucket that is simple and rugged in construction and which functions to perform digging and loading operations of improved efficiency and character over any herebefore attainable.

I claim:

1. In a material handling machine having a shovel arm, means for actuating the arm from a low material gathering position to a material discharge position, a shovel bucket connected to said arm, the combination wherein said shovel bucket comprises a bottom panel, a rear panel and side panels cooperating to define a bucket having an open front, said bottom panel having a depressed arcuately shaped digging lip formed transversely of its forward end, said digging lip projecting forwardly of said rear and side panels, plural teeth carried by the bottom panel at lateral positions remote from the central portion of the digging lip and projecting forwardly and downwardly from the lateral edges of the digging lip at a substantial angle thereto into engagement with the mate rial to be mucked during the digging and scooping operation, the forwardmost extension of the plural teeth being substantially equal to the forward extension of the arcuately shaped lip portion whereby to convert a substantial portion of the forward thrust onthe bucket by the bucket arm into a downwardthrust.

2. In a material handling machine having ashovel arm, means for actuating the shovel arm from a low material gathering position to a material discharge position, a shovel bucket connected to said arm, the combination wherein said shovel bucket comprises a bottom panel, a rear and side panels cooperating to define a bucket having an open front, said bottom panel having a depressed forwardly curved lip portion having a sharpened digging edge thereon, plural spaced teeth secured to the bottom panel remote from the central portion of the digging lip,

teeth projecting forwardly to'locat'e their forwardmost extremities in substantially transverse alignment with the forwardly projected front edge of the depressed lip portion of the panel, said forwardly projecting portions of said teeth being inclined downwardly to locate their extremities below the forwardmost edge of the central depressed portion of the bottom panel into engagement with the material to be mucked during the digging and scooping operation whereby to convert a substantial portion of the forward thrust on said bucket into a downward thrust.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the angle of inclination of said teeth from the plane of the bottom panel of said bucket is within the range of from about degrees to 60 degrees.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said teeth are of tapering vertical thickness in a forwardly direction providing digging edges on the forwardmost ends thereof.

5. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the angle of inclination of said teeth from the plane of the bottom panel of said bucket is about 30.

6. In a material handling machine having a shovel arm, means for actuating the arm from a low material gathering position to a material discharge position, a shovel bucket connected to said arm, the combination wherein said shovel bucket comprises a bottom panel, a rear panel and side panels cooperating to define a bucket having an open front, said bottom panel having a digging lip formed transversely of its forward end, said digging lip projecting forwardly of said rear and side panels and being provided with a depressed arcuately shaped forwand portion, plural teeth carried by the bottom panel at lateral positions remote from the central portion of the digging lip and projecting forwardly to locate their forwardmost extremities not farther than into substantially transverse alignment with the forwardly projecting front edge of the digging lip and downwardly from the lateral edges of the digging lip at a substantial angle thereto into engagement with the material to be mucked during the digging and scooping operation, whereby to convert a substantial portion of the forward thrust on the bucket by the bucket arm into a downward thrust.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,252 Sweet Apr. 2, 1850 711,992 Mason Oct. 28, 1902 1,285,582 Bailey Nov. 26, 1918 1,719,576 Voit July 2, 1929 1,883,052 Standfuss Oct. 18, 1932 2,480,384 Schwartz Aug. 30, 1949 2,704,613 Biedess Mar. 22, 1955 

